Sonos Updated iOS App to Add Live Activities Support

Sonos has updated its iOS app to support Live Activities. With the long-awaited return of quick access to Sonos control from the iOS lock screen, Live Activities is a new way to engage with your devices.

In a recent Reddit post, Sonos revealed the newly added feature to the community. Users will see Live Activities on the lock screen after playback begins. Live Activities shows the current room or group where audio was last played from.

Within the Live Activities widget, you can control playback, including pausing the track and skipping to the next or previous song. You can also adjust the volume settings or mute the audio if desired. After 15 minutes of inactivity, Live Activities will disappear from the lock screen. To control playback or make adjustments, you must unlock your phone with Face ID or your Passcode.

Live Activities isn’t enabled by default. Assuming that the Sonos app software is up to date on your device, you’ll have to go to ‘Account’ and select ‘App Preferences’ to find the ‘Live Activity’ option. From here, select ‘Always Allow’ the first time you see the Live Activity selection. ‘Allow Live Activity’ and ‘More Frequent Updates’ options can also be found in the iOS settings for the Sonos app.

As of now, Sonos’ Live Activities don’t support album art. However, the company says it’s exploring “alternative ways to enhance the lock screen experience are being explored.” While Live Activities is supported on Apple Watch and CarPlay, controls “aren’t supported” yet.

The company leaves off by saying that Sonos is exploring “new capabilities” within the iOS 27 beta. “No news to share right now, but keep your eyes peeled and ears open!”

Recently, Sonos has confirmed that it’s developing a brand-new soundbar ahead of what’s expected to be a major hardware reveal in September.